User:Jennifermead96/ Srivijya Edits and Sources

As the it traded with India and China, the Srivijayan Empire was able to adapt foreign religious and political practices, such as Buddhism and its many ideologies.

Remnants of Buddhist shrines (stupas) near Palembang and in neighboring areas aid researchers in their understanding of the Buddhism within this society.

250 years before I-Tsing, scholar and traveler, Fa Xian, did not notice the heavy hand of Buddhism within the Srivijayan region. Fa Xian, however, did witness the maritime competition over the region and observed the rise of Srivijaya as a Thalassocracy.

I-Tsing stayed in Srivijaya for six months and studied Sanskrit. According to I-Tsing, within Palembang there were more than 1000 monks studying for themselves and training traveling scholars who were going from India to China and vice versa.

I-Tsing also witness the translation of Buddhist texts into Old Malay, an Austronesian language, and into Chinese.

According to Chinese records, gold was a large part of Srivijaya. These texts describe that the empire, also referred to as “Jinzhou” which translates to “Gold Coast”, used gold vessel in ritual offering and that, as a vassal to China, brought “golden lotus bowls” as luxurious gifts to the Emperor during the Song Dynasty.

Some Arabic records that the profits acquired from trade ports and levies was converted into gold and was hidden by the King in the royal pond.

The Srivijayan Period is referred to the time when Srivjaya ruled over present day southern Thailand. In the region of Chaiya, there is clear evidence of Srivijayan influence seen in art work inspired by Mahayana Buddhism. Because of the large amount of remains, such as the Ligor stele, found in this region, some scholars attempted to prove Chaiya as the capital rather than Palembang. This period was also a time for art. The Buddhist art of the Srivijayan Kingdom was believed to have borrow from Indian styles like that of the Dvaravati school of art.

The rise of the Srivjayan Empire is seen to run parallel to the end of the Malay sea-faring period.

One thing researchers have found Srivijaya to be lacking is an emphasis in art and architecture. While neighboring regions have evidence of intricate architecture, such as the Borobudur temple build in 750-850 AD under the Saliendra Dynasty, Palembang lacks Buddhist stupas or sculpture. Though this does not accurately reflect Buddhist influence.